The "Wide Sus4" tuning for Guitar is a truly open and expansive soundscape, living up to its name with a "wide octave tuning" that evokes a distinctly "dreamy" quality. This tuning creates a rich, resonant C suspended 4th chord (C-F-G) when played open, spread across a vast two-octave range from C2 to G4. It’s an ideal tuning for ambient textures, fingerstyle arpeggios, and compositions that benefit from a harmonically rich, yet unresolved and floating sound.

Technically, the tuning notes are C2-G2-C3-F3-C4-G4. This arrangement provides a powerful root (C) on both the lowest and second highest strings, with a strong perfect fifth (G) on the second lowest and highest strings. The crucial F3 on the third string introduces the suspended fourth, creating a rich harmonic cluster without the definitive major or minor third, contributing to its ethereal nature. The wide spacing of the octaves (C2-C3-C4) and fifths (G2-G4) allows for deep, resonant drones and shimmering overtones. Open chords are instantly available as a glorious C sus4. Due to the repeated C and G notes, barre chords will take on unique voicings, often sounding more open and less conventional than in standard tuning. The open string harmony particularly lends itself to arpeggiated figures and modal explorations around the key of C.

How to Tune to Wide Sus4

To achieve the Wide Sus4 tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-E, follow these specific string adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones from E to C2. Generally, tuning down by 3 or 4 semitones requires careful adjustment and re-checking intonation.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A to G2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D to C3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 2 semitones from G to F3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitone from B to C4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 3 semitones from E to G4. Generally, tuning up by 3 or 4 semitones requires careful adjustment and re-checking intonation.

Always tune carefully and ensure your guitar's neck relief is checked after significant tuning changes. If you frequently use tunings that involve movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down (e.g., -5, +5), a different gauge string is advised for optimal performance and string longevity.

String 6: Tuned to C2 (the lowest C, two octaves below middle C).

String 5: Tuned to G2 (a perfect fifth above C2).

String 4: Tuned to C3 (an octave above C2).

String 3: Tuned to F3 (a perfect fourth above C3, creating the 'sus4' interval).

String 2: Tuned to C4 (an octave above C3, also known as middle C).

String 1: Tuned to G4 (a perfect fifth above C4, completing the C-F-G voicings).